Korean Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) Guidelines

What is KIIP

The Korean Immigration and Integration program (KIIP) is an Education program developed to help immigrants acquire basic knowledge and information about life in Korea (Korean language and Culture, Understanding Korean Society, etc.) so that they can adapt to the Korean society and become its self-reliant members.

Who can Apply for KIIP

• Foreign residents who hold an alien registration card or domestic residence card and naturalized Koreans
• NOTE: The KIIP is not available for naturalized Koreans who acquired Korean citizenship over three years ago

Why apply for KIIP / Benefits

• Deemed to have passed the Comprehensive Evaluation for Naturalization (in case of those who completed the advanced course of the KIIP Level 5)
• Exempt from naturalization interview (in case of those who took the 70-hour course of the KIIP Level 5 and passed the Comprehensive Evaluation for Naturalization)
• Deemed to have met the basic requirement for application for permanent residency
• Provided with extra points and exempt from proving proficiency in Korean when applying for other status of sojourn
• Exempt from proving proficiency in Korean when applying for a visa

KIIP Registration Process

STEP 1 - Registration:

ONLINE: You can visit the KIIP website www.socinet.go.kr to register.

OFFLINE: You can also visit the Korean Immigration office withe the following documents to register for KIIP:

Required Documents for registration at the Immigration office

• Registration Card (ARC)
• Application form for KIIP
• TOPIK Certificate (if necessary)
  TOPIK certificates must be valid as of the registration date

STEP 2 - Level Assignment:

You have 3 choices to choose from to get your level assignment:

• Start from level 0: You can do this if you do not know basic Korean. Just select "Start from level 0" in the KIIP website
• Level Test: If you know some level of Korean and want to skip level 0, you can take the level test. 1) Just select "Apply for level test" at the KIIP website, 2) pay for your application, 3) Print the Receipt 4) Take the test, 5) Get your level assignment.
• Level Assignment based on TOPIK: You can directly submit your TOPIK exam scores to the immigration office, or call to ask 1345 about the other options for submittion.

Level Test Assignment

Level Assignment with TOPIK

If you have a valid TOPIK score, you have the option to skip the level test and just present the certificate at the immigration office. You will be assessed according to the following: 

STEP 3- Class Registration

Login your socinet account to check the list of available classes for your level and location

Types of classes:

There are 2 main types of classes, you can either take the class online or offline. Online classes are reserved for people who might have mobility issues or may have difficulties in attending offline classes. These slots are very limited. Offline classes are for people who can attend classes in assigned institutions.

Who can apply to Online classes (Real-time lecture)

• Those who are pregnant, recently gave birth, live far away from the center, or with reduced mobility
• Those who registered for courses that are cancelled
• Those who cannot attend the class due to unavoidable reasons such as work (proof required)

Classroom Rules

General Rules:

• Students must attend at least 80% of the classes in order for them to qualify for the exams.
• For every minute a student is late, the number of minutes the student is late will be subtracted from their final attendance.

Class hours per level:

• Level 0: 15 hours
• Level 1: 100 hours
• Level 2: 100 hours
• Level 3: 100 hours (80H Intermediate Language course 1 + 20H language/culture course)
• Level 4: 100 hours (80H Intermediate Language course 2 + 20H language/culture course)
• Level 5: 70 hours (60 hours Understanding Korean Society: Basic course + 10 hours language/culture course)
• Level 5: 30 hours (20H Understanding Korean Society: Advanced course + 10 hours activities)